Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Dementia

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the stage between the expected cognitive decline of normal aging, and the more serious decline of dementia. It can involve problems with memory, language, thinking and judgment that are greater than normal age-related changes. Dementia describes a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, and social abilities severely enough to interfere with daily functioning. There are a variety of types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s, vascular (blood vessel disease), Lewy Body (a progressive type with abnormal protein deposition in the brain), Frontotemporal (A degeneration in the frontal and temporal areas of the brain), and Mixed (a combination of the above). Alzheimer’s is the most common.

Benefits from HBOT

Since cognitive impairment and dementia affect many areas of the brain, and HBOT treats all injured areas, patients experience a generalized improvement in cognition and function. Patients at our clinic commonly achieve a sense of well-being, have improved memory, regain conversational ability, and experience less confusion, better cognition, and less depression and anxiety.

Case Study

Mr. Earl was a 72 year old man facing institutionalization after the death of his wife. Unbeknownst to the extended family irascible Mr. Earl wasn’t much different from the way they had come to accept him after decades of smoking, drinking, brawling, traumatic brain injuries, and an episode of carbon monoxide poisoning. After the death of his wife it became obvious that Mr. Earl had been supported and sustained by his wife. It was apparent he was not able to care for himself. Over the course of four months he had increasing nightly confusion, memory loss, and paranoia, requiring 5 hospital admissions for intestinal bleeding and confusion. Eventually, he had to be removed from his son’s home due to uncontrollable behavior. During his airline flight to New Orleans for HBOT treatment he deteriorated at altitude, resulting in an air marshall incident and emergency hospital admission on landing in Houston. An extensive evaluation failed to identify other causes of Mr. Earl’s “normal aging.” Following brief testing which showed a Folstein Mini-Mental Status (MMSE) score of 15 (dementia is highly suggested with a score less than 25) Mr. Earl underwent SPECT brain imaging before and after a single HBOT.

Mr. Earl received 40 HBOT’s in one month and experienced a reversal of his dementia with generalized cognitive improvement, increased energy, decreased SOB and confusion, improved sleep, weight gain, and a Folstein MMSE of 23. Repeat SPECT brain imaging showed a global improvement in brain blood flow consistent with his improved condition. Mr. Earl returned to his home to live semi-independently (son lived nearby and helped with groceries and local travel) for the rest of his life.

Mr. Earl’s SPECT scan before HBOT: note the multiple holes in the frontal lobes, the coarse surface of the brain, and the fragmented blood flow in the temporal lobes. Note also the irregular appearance of the blood flow on the slices (on the right side of the picture).

Mr. Earl’s SPECT scan after one HBOT: note the dramatic filling in of the areas of low blood flow in the frontal lobes and temporal lobes. Also, the slices on the right side of the picture show overall better blood flow with less purple and a smoother appearance to the slices.Note: A SPECT scan is often performed before HBOT and again after one HBOT to display recoverable brain tissue. In order for the increased blood flow to be more permanent, at least approximately 40 treatments are then completed.

Mr. Earl’s SPECT scan after 40 HBOTs: Again, the changes seen after the first HBOT on SPECT are seen after 40 HBOTs, but are now more permanent. Note the overall smoother texture to the slices on the right side of the picture. This global improvement in blood flow is consistent and responsible for Mr. Earl’s overall improved cognition.